Ever since she became an orphaned 12-year-old in Russia, Liora Tamir thought she was alone in the world — having lost every single member of her family either in the Nazi Holocaust or Soviet prison camps.

On Thursday, she was united with his son — her cousin — at an emotional ceremony at Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem.

"My mother didn't tell me anything about the family, I thought they were all gone," said Tamir, 65, shortly after embracing 73-year-old Aryeh Shikler. "Now I have a cousin. I still can't believe it. It's surreal."

Tamir's daughter, Ilana, made the reunion possible. For years she scoured archives for any information about her maternal grandmother, Yona Shapira.

American basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will visit Israel in July and meet with Rabbi Israel Meir Lau to discuss a film that he is making about World War II, the rabbi said recently.

The film is based on the book "Brothers in Arms", which Abdul-Jabbar co-authored and deals with the American troops who liberated Nazi concentration camps in the end of World War II. Abdul-Jabbar's own father served on the 761st Tank Battalion, which liberated the Buchenwald Concentration Camp in Germany.

Among the Jews rescued from the camp were two children: Rabbi Lau and his brother, Naftali Lavie. Abdul-Jabbar and Lau met for the first time 14 years ago, during the former's first visit to Israel.

Janice Sellers writes in Ancestral Discoverieshttp://ancestraldiscoveries.blogspot.com/ about the The Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation (AIISF) promoting a greater understanding of Pacific Coast immigration and its role in shaping America's past, present, and future. Currently, AIISF is asking for help in locating Jewish refugees who came to San Francisco in the late 1930's and 1940, and their descendants.

AIISF hosts a database (http://aiisf.org/history/ai-jewish-refugees) with information about 132 Jewish immigrants who were processed at Angel Island Immigration Station. Please contact AIISF at the e-mail address or phone number listed on the Web site if you recognize any of the individuals listed in the database. AIISF would like to interview the individuals or their descendants in order to get their full stories.

New York City's Mayor Bloomberg announced last November that a merger of the New York City Department of Records and Information into the NYC Citywide Administrative Services Department. was forthcoming as part of his Administration's ongoing cost-saving, consolidation and shared services initiatives. Noticed on this forum in March was information on a public meeting --not a hearing--held March 15-- to discuss the merger. Legislation needs to be enacted by the New York City Council to accomplish the Mayor's proposal.

The New York City Council Committee on Governmental Operations, has scheduled a hearing, on April 27, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. in the 14th Floor Committee Room, 250 Broadway, New York, NY regarding the pending legislation to accomplish the merger--File Number Int 0486-2011. To read the bill go to: http://tinyurl.com/4orgbfb or original url:

The bill would amend the City Charter and the Administrative Code of NYC in relation to the transfer of functions from the Department of Records and Information Services to the Department of Citywide Administrative.

With so many Jewish genealogists having roots in New York City this action is of interest to many of us as it effects the administrative branch that holds many vital records and other records of genealogical value.

An updated IAJGS legislative alert has been posted to the IAJGS Website www.IAJGS.org and click on green legislation tab (on the left) then on "latest alert" or on the newsboy icon under Public Records Access then click on "latest alerts."

Updates included in the alert dated April 12, 2011 are: Maine LD 258-on access to vital records-- including a link to the amended bill version currently before the Maine Senate--it has passed the Maine House for final vote before being sent to the governor for his signature; a link to the IAJGS statement on Maine LD 258; and an update on Pennsylvania SB 361 including the IAJGS statement regarding birth and death records becoming public records after 100/50 years respectively.

As Ancestry.com now owns Footnote.com you can access the Footnote Civil War collection by searching the Civil War record indexes on Ancestry.com, then click through and click on the Footnote.com icon to see the actual record images or go to:http://go.footnote.com/civilwar/?xid=1007.

A recent JGSLA blog entry (http://jgsla.org/latest) notes about America's Only Jewish Military Cemetery. The Hebrew Confederate Cemetery, located in Richmond, Virginia, is the only Jewish military cemetery in the world outside of Israel. It was created by the anti-Semitism of the two Confederate military cemeteries, in Spotsylvania Court House and Fredericksburg. They refused to bury the Jewish Confederate soldiers killed in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Wilderness. They didn't want "Jewish boys" in their cemeteries. They buried Jewish confederate soldiers within a self contained hallowed area of Hebrew Cemetery of Richmond Virginia. Those buried came from Mississippi, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Louisiana. For the full story see:http://www.fau.edu/library/confederate_cemetery.htm .It lists the names of those buried.

The Scotland 1911 census was released on April 5, 2011. It is accessible at:http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/..it and covers 4.7 million people, including the name, address, age, occupation, birthplace and marital status of everyone counted in the 1911 census, as well as details about their children. There is a charge for viewing an image (1 credit) and one for a copy of the image (5 credits). The website above gives more information regarding the charges.

The British Library has created an Archival Sound Collection that includes a major project entitled the Living Memory of the Jewish Community which was recorded during 1988-2000.

As part of this larger project, approximately sixty-four (64) interviews with Jewish Holocaust survivors in the United Kingdom (UK) have been made accessible online. Many of the interviews were conducted by Jewish genealogist Ros Livshin of Manchester, England, and other such experts.

The interviews are arranged in alphabetical order by the name the person was known by at the time of the interview. Many times, this name is an Anglicized version of their original name. Or, in the case where the interviewee is a woman, her maiden or original name is oftentimes provided.

The following are the names of the interviewees and where they were from:

These interviews are truly a treasure of information from the survivors about their families, where they lived, and the circumstances that befell them and their relatives during World War II. It is also an opportunity to hear how they pronounce the names and places from their homelands.

The historic synagogue in Zamosc was rededicated after a $2.4 million restoration, though the Renaissance town in southeast Poland no longer has a Jewish community.

Amid prayers and commemorative speeches, Poland's chief rabbi, Michael Schudrich, affixed a mezuzah to the door of the fortress-like building, which was built originally in the early 17th century.

The restored building will function as a cultural center, including a Jewish museum, and serve as a hub for a tourist "Chasidic Route." Located near the site of the Nazi death camp of Belzec -- now a memorial and museum -- the synagogue also will be available for religious services.

The building is one of the most important synagogues in Poland to have survived the Holocaust and communism; most were destroyed. Most of the town's 12,500 Jews were killed during the Holocaust.

During World War II the German occupiers used the vaulted interior of the elegant building as a stable and carpentry workshop, and after the war it served as the local library. The building was restituted to Jewish ownership in 2005.

Click here to read the entire article, and here to learn more about Zamosc

Paul Silverstone, IAJGS Treasurer and Public Records Access Monitoring Committee member, recently visited the New York City Municipal Archives and found they no longer charge $5.00 rental fee for the microfilm reader, however, the charge for a copy of a record when you are there in person is now $11.00 per record. All other charges remain the same and can be found on their website.

Paul also found that while everyone visiting the building, [31 Chambers Street, NYC 10007 ] , while it is still required to go through a metal detector, there is no longer a requirement for a visitor's pass and proof of identity with a government issued photograph.

What does Oct 29 to Nov 26 2011 have in common with IAJGS, your JGS and the Jewish Genealogy? If your answer was that this is the Hebrew month of Cheshvan you are right in part. It is also International Jewish Genealogy Month and an opportunity and vehicle to have our communities focus on Jewish Genealogy and our JCCs, our SIGS and our projects.

This year's International Jewish Genealogy Month Committee will be chaired by Nancy Adelson of Seattle who will be joined by Rabbi Garry Gans of New Jersey, Howard Morris of Boston, Jeanette Rosenberg of England and Garri Regev of Jerusalem. We are still looking to expand the committee and get volunteers to ensure a success so if you have any ideas let me know.

And though our focus is a month of great programs, our annual poster is an anchor. Details of the poster contest for which a June 15th submission date has been established, are to be found at our website www.iajgs.org and will be elaborated on by Nancy.

So start thinking of International Jewish Genealogy Month whether you live in Los Angeles, Toronto, Liverpool, Ra'anana, Johannesburg, Paris or Melbourne. Your November programs are right around the corner.

For those of you who either live in the area or will be visiting the Washington DC area on April 12 you may find the conference on Media Access to Government Information they are holding of interest. The goal of the conference is to discuss how technology might improve access to government information for journalists and citizens alike. The conference is free. For more information go to:http://blogs.archives.gov/online-public-access/?p=4843

According to the World Jewish Congress, the Polish government has requested at museums at former Nazi death camps located within Poland to replace their Polish internet suffix "pl" with more neutral suffixes such as .com or .eu The move reflects an effort in Poland to underline the fact that although many of the death camps were located in wartime Poland, they were set up and run by Germans.

US Archivist David Ferriero announced a new Chief Information Officer at the National Archives: Mike Walsh- effective March 27, 2011. Previously Mr. Walsh had 7 years of experience as the CIO of the U.S. Government Printing Office. Prior to joining the federal government Mr., Walsh worked in the private sector for 26 years with Eastman Kodak Company.

As the Open Government Executive/Chief Information Officer, Walsh will be responsible for leading projects and programs, and developing information systems and tools that will help customers discover NARA's holdings. In addition, he will oversee our IT security and applied research initiatives.

Charles Piercy the Acting CIO since this past July will resume his duties as Deputy CIO until he officially becomes the Executive for Business Support Services.

As of this posting there was no press release posted on the National Archives website.

The Friends of Georgia Archives and History website has posted an article that states Georgia HB 78, the state budget bill as currently drafted and passed the House of Representatives on March 11, could force the closure to the public due to a $300,000 budget cut. Currently the Archives is open only 3 days a week to the public.

As one of the IAJGS website components, there is a list of genealogical websites of interest. The list has been updated and added to with a number of new sites of interest They are marked as new with the date added.

Many of these sites will be on the computers in the Resource Center for the 31st IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy hosted by JGS of Greater Washington. But why wait to try these free sites! Go to http://www.iajgs.org/links.html to access the "Websitesof Genealogical Interest".

The National Archives (US) has a blog, NARAtionshttp://blogs.archives.gov/online-public-access/ where monthly Constance Potter, Archivist of Archives I Research Support Branch is writing on how to prepare for the release of the 1940 US census on April 2, 2012. For thefirst time the census will be released digitally and not on microfilm. You can subscribe to the blog for free. There is a place to enter your e-mail address on the right hand side of the blog at the url entered above.

The National Archives (US) will be holding its 7th annual genealogy fair on April 20-21, 2011 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the National Archives Building 700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington D.C.

If you live in the area, or are visiting Washington DC at that time it is a worthwhile program which showcases the Federal Records located at the National Archives for family history research and they will have speakers and exhibitors from the Archives, Ancestry.com, Footnote.com, Harvard University and professional genealogists.

SHANGHAI (AP) -- Not far from the Bund district in Shanghai, with its hordes of tourists and view of the city's famous skyscrapers across the Huangpu River, is a quiet neighborhood called Hongkou.

Walk here along Zhoushan Road and you'll stumble on a sign that signifies an otherwise unremarkable building at No. 59 as a landmark. "During the World War II," the sign reads in imperfect English, "a number of Jewish refugees lived in this house, among whom is Michael Blumenthal, the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury of the Carter Government."

There is tradition that Bukharian Jews are the descendants of the Tribe of Naphtali and of the Tribe of Issachar and that they were exiled during the Assyrian conquest of Israel in 7th century B.C.E. The Bukharian Jews of Central Asia, today’s Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, were essentially cut off from the rest of the Jewish world for more than 2,500 years.

They are considered one of the oldest ethnic groups of Central Asia and over the years have developed their own distinct Jewish culture. In the region of Bukhara (Uzbekistan), the largest concentrations were in Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khokand. In Tajikistan, they lived in the capital, Dushanbe. Throughout the years, Jews from other Eastern countries such as Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Syria, and Morocco migrated into Central Asia by way of the Silk Road, as did Jews who were exiled from Spain during the Spanish Inquisition; all these joined the Central Asian Jewish community and were later collectively known as Bukharian Jews.
The first written account of this Central Asian Jewish Community comes from the 4th century C.E. The Talmud relates the story of Rabbi Shmuel bar Bisna from the academy in Pumbeditha who traveled to the region now known as Turkmenistan and feared that the local wine and spirits produced there by the Jewish community were not kosher. There is also evidence of a Jewish presence from the 5th and 6th centuries C.E. found on ossuaries discovered in the mid 1950’s.